Airplane-loading device



Jan. 28, 1930. i B. M. TUXHORN 1,744,934

AIRPLANE LOADING DEVICE Filed Aug. 25, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORNEY "offering a relatively large and hazardous Patented Jan. 28, 1930 I UNITED STATES .PATENT OFFICE BLAINE M. TuxHom or KANSAS crrxnissobnr, Ass emonTo AEno-sArE Morons coaromnon, or KANSAS CITY, mssoum, A CORPORATION or mssoum AIRPLANE-LOADING DEVI CE Application filed August 25, 1927. Serial No. 215,378.

My invention relates to aircraft and more particularly'to means for loading airplanes while in flight, the object being to enable an airplane to pick up a load without hazard of damage lJO-ith airplane, load, carrier or loading means due to the stresses arising when a moving body engages a still body.

The principal problem involved in loading airplanes while in flight is connected with overcoming the inertia of'the load, a relatively small weight of load to be picked up resistance due to'the speed of the plane. An incidental problem has been to provide loading means avoiding danger of damage to the plane approaching the load and contacting it, and enabling the plane operator to direct the pickup means with sufficient accuracy to grasp the load.

In accomplishing the objects stated I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view. of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail perspective'view of the upper end ofa standard and engaged load loo Fig. 3 is a longitudinal "sectional view of a projecting device'having a load associated therewith.

Fig. 4:is a 'detail View of the lower end of one of the standards partly broken away, a base member being shown in section.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the wiring system for releasing the projector.

Fig. 6 is a section of the projecting device on the line 66, Fig. 3.

Referring in detail to the drawings:

l'designates generally a supporting element comprising'the spaced standards-or'posts 2 and 3', the standards having the notches 4 at their upper ends to receive an elastic element 5, prefer-ably 'a cord that is designed for attachment toa container 6,-for example by extending the cord through the bail 7 of the container and joining its ends to form a loop.

A track or guide 8 is provided to support the container comprising preferably a tubular memberor barrel pivotally supported by brackets 9 on spacedblockslO-disposed on a platform 11, The guide is provided with an adjusting-leg 12 pivotally mounted in ears 13 on the forward portion of-the barrel having openings 14 for engagement with a pin 15 disposed through'openings l6 in'supporting brackets 17 positioned on the platform 11 in advance of the spaced blocks 10. The pivotal support and-pivoting leg provide-for the elevation or depression of the .forward end of the guide and fixing-it in a desired po- 'sition.

The general structural features mentioned provide for the arrangement of the elastic cord, which is preferably an airplane shock absorber cord, in the notches at the upper edges of the standards to produce a horizontal member 18 of the cord, the standards being for example twelve feet high and disposed twenty feetapart so that an airplane generally designated 19, having the axle 20 from which a hook 'member 21 provided with a hook 22 depends, may in flight engage the cord topick up the load.

The fact that the cord is elastic and is easily released from the notched standards, measurably reduces the hazard of picking up a load which the container may hold or represent, by delaying the fully effective traction-or drawing influence of the airplane on the load. The 4 loadthus engaged may be elevated to be handled by the aviator, by means of thedraw cable 23 attached to the hook member 21; Additional means for reducing the hazard and furthering the efliciency of a pickup inv clude the elements for supporting the stand ards 2 and 3. Foundation or base blocks 24 and 25 of concrete or like substantial material are sunk suitably in the ground, and on these base blocks the standards are movably supported. The standards have globular footing members 26, the lower segments, of which are truncated to provide the fiat seating portions v27 for vertical normal positioning of the-' 5 standards. v

Each globular footing member is provided with a nether opening 28 across which extends a pin 29 fixed in the member at right angles to the plane of the spaced standards;

.and over the pin 29 an elastic element 30 through a vertical opening 31 in the foundation or base block to an anchoring cross plate 32 that is fixed on the bottom of the block, the elastic element being looped over said plate or otherwise engaged therewith. -The standards tend, through the leve'ringinfluence of the elastic elements recited, to retain a ver tical position and to be returned to vertical position if tilted or oscillated on the globular footings, and are permitted to oscillate.

I provide, further, means for discharging the container from the tubular guide at substantially the moment of engagement of the container by the airplane, including a piston 33 slidable in the guide and having arms 34 projecting laterally through side slots 35 of the guide; and laterally extending bars 36 fixed on the forward portion of the guide in alignment with the slots and projecting arms of the piston. Elastic cords 37 are fixed to the projecting piston arms and to the bars on each side of the guide, so that retraction of the piston rearwardly in the guide will tension the cords. A rod 38 having an eye 39 extends rearwardly from the piston through a large opening 40 in the rear end wall 41. of

the guide, whereby the piston may be re-- tracted, for example, by attaching the rod to the hock 42 on a rope 43 that may be wound on a Windlass 44 against the tension of the cords 37. The piston may be latched inretracted and tensioned position by the engagement of a tooth 45 on the rod with a latching member 46 pivotally supported at 47 by a bracket 48,

the release of the latch enabling the -'piston to project a container that may be positioned in the uide adjacent the iston.

The atch may be manua ly 0 rated but I show one means of automatic y actuating it synchronously or in timed relation with the withdrawal of the load-supporting loop by the airplane, including a ma et element" 49 in the housing 48, the magnet ing served by wires 50 and 51, the latch 46 constituting the armature of the magnet and being released from engagement with the piston bar upon energization of the magnet. The circuit of p the wires 50 and 51 is completed'through terminals 52 and 53 having arcuate contact plates 54 and 55 positioned on the foundation blocks adjacent the globular footingl members of the standards, and terminals 56 and 57 fixed in thesaid globular footing members and having contact points 58 and 59 adapted to contact the arcuate plates 54 and 55 upon'tilting of the standards to a degree regulated by the spacing of the contact points from the plates due to adjustment by set screws 60. e

The circuit is suitably provided with current so that when the standards tilt to complete .he' circuit the magnet is energized and the latch released to permit the piston to latform, for shorter or longer delay of pull on the load through the loop. a

In using t-he invention, the elements having been constructed and assembled as described, a load such as gasoline or oil for the use of the airplane, mail, or other message; or merchandise, is installed in the container or provided in suitable form. The elastic element 5 is then enga ed with the container and its portions loope in the notches in the upper ends of the standards. The piston rod is secured to the hook of the Windlass and the piston retracted against the tensionof the cords 37, and retained by the latch 46, the windlass hook being then released from the rod. The container is .positioned in the guide member in contact with the piston, such positioning not necessarily involving tensioning of the elastic element 5.

The guide member is adjusted and positioned for the particularv urpose and, for example, at a slight upwar angle in the directionof the probable airplane flight, by the adjusting elements described.

When an airplane approaches, it is so guided that the depending hook engages the laterally extending elastic element 5 and the advance of the airplane causesthe'element to tilt the standards. A small extent of tiltin results both in the release of, the engage elasticelement from the notches of the standardsand in the contacting of the contact plates 54 and 55 by the members 58 and-59 cuit for energizing the magnet whereby the latch constituting the armature of the magnet is withdrawn from enga ement with the iston rod. The iston ro being thus reeased, the iston 1s snapped forward in the guide mem r by the t'ensioning cords, pro.- ectingthe container forwardly in and outwardly from the guide member, and in substlantially the direction of flight of the airane; The load, namely, the container, having a certain amount of inertia which tends to v cause the elastic .element 5 to be extended and the airplane is relieved of the duty.

Should a part of the airplane accidentally touch one of the posts, the latter will tilt and so move away to prevent damage to the airplane. The posts return to normal position uponwithdrawal of any influence tilting.

them. I

The'particular proportions and relative by the inertia is ,overcome by the projector positions of parts of the structure may be adapted to the features of a particular loadingpoint or station, the service required, or the probable usual speed of airplanes picking up loads therefrom. The horizontal spacial relation of the guide or barrel to the vertical plane of the posts "is a factor, for example in the regulating of the interval between the grasping of the container cord loop by the airplane and the pull by the cord on the container. The length, shape or position of the contact fingers 56 and 57 on the posts, affecting the distance they travel upon tilting of'the posts to make contact with the plates to complete :the magnet-energizing circuit, is a factor regulating the delay be-- .tweengrasping of the container loop by the.

airplane and projection of the container.

I .A guide may be movable at right angles to the plane of the posts, or the Posts may be movable, to permit adjustment of the spa cial relation between the guide and the posts.

When the guide is relatively distant from the posts and behind them with reference to the direction of flight of an airplane using the station, the load cord will obviously be inclined upwardly from the container to the top of the'posts and forwardlyin. the flight direction, the loop being installed forwardly on the posts and being brought back rearwardly between the posts to be connected with the container. therefore hook the load while in an advanced position over the load, so that the cord'is extended and tensioned, the posts are tilted, and

the projector released, upon relatively short travel of the airplane after hooking the load,

- forwardly,

adesirable arrangementiat slow airplane speed. WVhen the guide is positioned more the airplane catching the loop travels several feet before causing full extension of the cord; the posts are tilted at the instant of or before the passing of the airplane over the load; and the projector will therefore be actuated to discharge the load at an earlier moment relative to the passage of the airplane traveling at a high rate. of speed, whereby hazard of strain on the load cordis avoided.

Similar accommodation of the extent of delay in discharge of the load relative to the passing of the airplane, is provided for in the adjustment of the contact members of the posts. When the contact members are positioned with their ends relatively close to the contact plates of the base, a small degree of tilting of the post will cause contact and closing of the circuit to energize the magnet and release the projector, a practice desirable when a swiftly moving airplane is picking up a load, so that the load will be projected the more promptly. When the contact members are spaced to a greater degree from the contact plates, the posts must tilt to a greater degree to cause release of the projector; and

A traveling airplane will.

so' adjusted the structure is accommodated to a less swiftly moving airplane so that the load may not be projected in advance of the moving airplane.

While I have described my device as employing a piston actuated by elastic cords for projecting a container having a load, I suggest other means of accom lishing similar purposes which are intende to be included and implied in the claims hereto appended. For example, the guide member may be provided withmeans for receiving an explosive,

and means may be provided for timely deto- I nating of the explosive, for discharging and projecting a load from the guide memberin the airplane flight; the elasthe'direction of tie loop described or analogous means being. used for supporting the container. A spring may serve as the projector, means being provided whereby the tilting posts, tor operating synchronously with the passing or other facof the airplane, may release a latch to render supporting elements may be installed on the ground, on buildings, boats or airplanes for the use of airplanes.

My experience has the several features used either singly or in co-operation, namely, the elastic load-supporting cord releasably engaged on spaced posts, the tiltable structure of the posts, for return to vertical position,.the projecting dedisclosed the value of vice, and the controlof the projecting device I by the tiltable posts; which enable an airplane-to pick up a load without hazard to.

the airplane, load, or loading device.

What I claim and desire to secure-by Letters Patent is:

l. A device of the character described com- (I prising a movable supporting element, a'

member releasably carried by the supporting element for attaching to a container, and means including elastic 'cor'ds operable by movement of said supporting element for projectingthe container. 1 j

2. A device of the character described for enabling an airplane 'to pick up a container,

comprising a sup orting element, an elastic member releasa ly carried by-the supporting element tobe attached to the container, 2. guide element for seating the container, and means for projecting the container including a trigger operated by a movement of said supporting element. v

3. In a device for enabling an airplane to able in the tubular member, means for latehing the piston in retracted position, means having a member movable in the slots of the tubular member for projecting the piston forwardly in the tubular member to discharge the container therefrom, and means connected with the posts for causing the latch to be released to permit projection of the piston.

4. In a loading device for airplanes, supporting posts, a container-carrying member releasably carried by the posts, a tubular guide member adjustably positioned adjacent said supports and adapted to receive a container, a piston slidable in the tubular member, elastic means having portions fixed on the tubular member for projecting the piston forwardly in the tubular member to discharge the container, and means connected with the postsfor effecting the projection of the piston.

5. In a loading device for airplanes, a supporting element including a tiltable standard having means for automatic return to normal position, means for tilting the standard including an element to be connected with the load for releasable engagement with the supporting element, means for projecting the load, means operated by tilting of the standard for rendering the projecting means effective and means connected with the airplane for engaging said load-connected element to tilt the standard and receive the load.

6. In a device for enabling an airplane in flight to pick up an article, an article-carrying aving a member releasably supportelement ed in the path of the airplane, means for pro jecting the article in the general direction of the airplane flight, means operated by movement of the said member for rendering said projecting means efiective, and means automatically restoring said second named means to pro-operated position, the airplane having means to apprehend said member to be carried away thereby.

7. In a devicefor enabling an airplane in flight to pick up an article, an article-carrying element having a member releasably supported in the ath of the airplane, means for projecting tl e article carrying element in the general direction of the airplane flight, and

means actuatable upon movement of the said member for rendering said projeeting'means efieetive, comprising an electric circuit, a projector-releasing element actuated by the current of the closed circuit, and means operated by movement of said member for closing the circuit, the airplane having means to apprehend said member to be carried away thereby.

8. In a device of the character described, a

tiltable standard, a container-sup orting cord for engagement with the standar a pro ector upon tilting of the standard.

9. In a device of the character described, a

tiltable standard, a container-supporting cord engageable with the standard, a projector adapted to receive the container, and electric means for rendering the projector eflective including an electric circuit and means operable upon tilting of the standard for controlling the circuit.

10. In a device of the character described, a container-carrying member, a support, and a projecting element comprising a shell, means for horizontally adjusting the position of the shell with reference to the support, and means forrende1 ing the projector effective operated by movement of thecontainer-carrying member. 4

- 11. In a loading device for airplanes, a standard, means tiltably supporting the standard, a load carrier engagcable with the standard, and adapted to tilt the same and releasabletheretrom upon tilting of the standard, means for discharging the load including a trigger operated by tilting of the standard, and means connected with the airplane for engaging. said load carrier to tilt the standard.

12. In a loading device for airplanes, a support, a load carrier adapted to be movably positioned on the support and including a loop engageable by the airplane, and means including an elastic cord fiXedto the support and operable against the load carrier for projecting the same.

13. In a device for transferring a load to an aircraft in flight, including a guide for movably supporting the load, meansfor projecting the load, and aload cord support, an elastic load cord adapted to be fixed to the load and having a portion for mounting on the cord support to form a loop for engagement by an aircraft, and means including a member mounted on said cord support and responsive to movement of the load cord upon engagement of the same by the aircraft for rendering said load-projecting means effective.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

BLAINE M. TUXHORN. 

